Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Michelins

After a lot of reading on this forum and research in the tire websites from the vault, I took the advice from a member and bought my new tires (Michelin Commanders) from the local Triumph dealership (Millerbuilt Inc. in Lynchburg, VA). He's been more than fair before, so I'm giving him my dough. He sells tires for list price, then mounts, with new tubes and rim strips, computer balances (a new multi K $$$$ machine) and installs at no extra charge. I'll post with the final price and results after they are installed. Oh, the dealer ordered the tires and said they would contact me in 2-3 days when the tires come in. Then I could drop my BA off there early in the morning, drive a loaner bike and pick the BA up after work. Like I said, this guy goes the extra distance to help.
Has anyone used the Commanders on a BA? I've been a fan of Michelin car and truck tires for many years, but this will be the first time for a bike application.

That's what a dealership should be. Our local Triumph dealer is about to drop the Triumph line, and go to another as of yet unanounced brand. Geez - tough to guess what that line may be. Bastids.

I have a Michelin Commander I put on the front at 16k miles. I think it cost me around $135 installed. So far I like it. I ended up putting a Dunlop 404 on the rear though, at 18k miles. I was a little short on bread at the time and they wanted around $180 for the Michelin for the rear. I like the aggressive tread of the Dunlop. And yes, I asked several service techs if there would be a problem with 2 different brand tires on the bike and they all said no, as long as they are the correct sizes.

I took the loaner bike (a new Bonneville with more zip than my BA) back today and picked up my America with the new Michelin Commanders. The tires look good, but made me feel a little unpatriotic. A British bike, I can deal with. After all, they are about the only country on earth that doesn't despise the USA and we can depend on when the poop hits the fan. But, this tire company is French and they are made in Spain. I hope no extremists were working on the line that my tires came down. Oh well..
The tire machine that the dealer used didn't leave a trace on my wheels, and the computer balancing is good at 80 mph. As usual, the final bill was a little more than I was expecting. BS, BS, BS and the total was $357.30. The list price was $187 for the rear and $125 for the front. Taxes, disposal, chrome plated weights, etc., made the difference. I hope these bad boys will give longer life than the originals, only 6,500 miles for the front, and I replaced the back whether it needed it or not (not, but I replaced it anyway).

Man, I'm really messed up then. French/Spanish Michelin on the front and Japanese made Dunlop on the rear. Is there a British made tire out there? What about Continentals?